Homeowners, pet safe after fire sparked by lightning

HOW STRONG AND SEVERE IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, TROY, THANK YOU. PEOPLE TRYING TO GET CLEANED UP BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND OF STORMS HITS UP, EVAN LAMBERT IS WITH US LIVE. REPORTER: JUST GETTING RID OF THIS GIANT TREE, THEY SPENT AN HOUR, LOTS ARE CLEANING UP FROM THIS STORM THIS NOON. THE CHAIN SAWS ROAR AND WORKERS CUT IT UP PIECE BY PIECE. IT FELL FEET FROM A HOME BLOCKING ALMOST THE ENTIRE STREET OVERNIGHT. HOLLY CARPENTER SAID THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HER STREET LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS WAS BACK WHEN HURRICANE CHARLIE HIT. BOTH SIDES OF LAKE CO MOE HIT REPORTER: THEY WERE ENOUGH TO DEVASTATE ONE FAMILY IN THE VILLAGES, LIGHTNING SPARKED A FIRE BALL THAT LEFT THIS HOUSE AN SHELL. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. A NIGHTMARE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WAKE UP. REPORTER: WE SAW HAIL -- FLOOD WATERS AND DAMAGE. PROOF OF MOTHER NATURE'S SWEEPING POWER. THAT FAMILY WHOSE HOUSE BURNED DOWN, THEY ARE STAYING WITH FRIENDS WHILE THEY SORT OUT TO DO NEXT. REPORTING IN ORLANDO, EVAN LAMBERT LOCAL 6. IF YOU WANT TO TRACK TODAY'S STORMS GO TO CLICKORLANDO.COM OR

THE VILLAGES, Fla. -

Marion County fire officials said a home was completely destroyed after a lightning strike started a fire Saturday night.

Fire officials said at 9:39 p.m. Saturday, firefighters responded to a structure fire at 16918 SE Northridge Court in The Villages.

Officials said the fire was caused by a lightning strike.

Quick Clicks

The homeowners called 911 and safely got out of the home with their cat, said firefighters.

Flames were visible through the roof when firefighters arrived first at the scene. Firefighters went into the home to try and attack the fire, but as the fire escalated, officials said they had to back out of the home and fight it from the outside.

Firefighters said they were able to control the fire about an hour later.

The home is considered a total loss; firefighters were able to protect homes on both sides of the fire, which suffered only superficial damage, firefighters said.

Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of clickorlando.com, WKMG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum (Please note the 'Flag' button). By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms Of service